UK firms looking to India for growth despite trade deal delays July 20, 2023 A host of UK firms are looking to expand their operations in India despite delays to the UK-India trade deal. India is now considered a core international growth market for UK mid-market firms, according to a survey of a survey of just over 600 medium-sized UK firms by accountancy firm Grant Thornton. Just over 70 [...]
MI6 chief calls for Russians to spy for UK July 19, 2023 The head of MI6 has urged Russians angry at Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine to spy for the UK. Sir Richard Moore told them “our door is always open” and “we will work to bring the bloodshed to an end”. He said that while artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to help target the Kremlin’s [...]
Sunak set to delay decision on UK rejoining Horizon July 19, 2023 Rishi Sunak is expected to delay making a decision on whether the UK should rejoin the EU’s Horizon science funding programme until after the summer break, it has been reported. The prime minister will not announce whether British researchers will have access to the €95.5bn programme until the autumn,the Financial Times (FT) reported. A government [...]
Conservatives heading for triple by-election loss, bookies predict July 18, 2023 The Conservatives are tipped for a triple by-election loss this week as they prepare to do battle in three Tory seats, bookies have predicted. Voters in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Selby and Ainsty and Somerton and Frome will head to the polls this Thursday to select new MPs. Ballots are expected to be an electoral [...]
Bosses from Natwest, Shell and Sainsbury’s join PM’s new taskforce to boost growth July 18, 2023 Top bosses from firms including Barclays, Aviva and Shell have joined the Prime Minister’s new business council aimed at supercharging the UK’s growth. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will chair the first business council meeting at No10 today, followed by a glitzy reception for scores of industry bigwigs to celebrate UK enterprise. CEOs including Alison Rose [...]
UK to issue visas for foreign construction workers to fill job shortages July 17, 2023 Carpenters, bricklayers and roofers are among migrant workers who will be allowed to apply for work visas and get a discount on fees in a bid to fill UK job shortages. The Home Office said it was “temporarily easing visa restrictions” for a string of construction roles by adding them to the shortage occupation list. [...]
All you need to know about this week’s by-election battles July 17, 2023 With Parliament set to break up for summer recess this Thursday, MPs of all stripes are preparing to head back to their constituencies for the summer. But before the long August holidays, there could be some political upsets in store. Voters in three constituencies of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Selby and Ainsty and Somerton and [...]
Sunak accepts six per cent public sector pay rises but warns it ‘will cost all of you as taxpayers’ July 13, 2023 Government has accepted recommendations for millions of public sector workers to receive pay rises of six per cent or more, Rishi Sunak has announced. The prime minister said today reports from independent pay bodies calling for public sector pay rises of between five and 6.5 per cent for millions of medics, teachers and civil servants [...]
Sunak says Ukraine ‘belongs’ in NATO as Wallace warns UK is ‘not Amazon’ for weapons delivery July 12, 2023 Rishi Sunak told Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky he belonged in NATO as he assured him “real progress” had been made on security guarantees for Kyiv in its fightback against Russia. The prime minister met the Ukrainian president on the fringes of the NATO summit in Vilnius. Zelensky has been left frustrated by the reluctance of [...]
PMQs sketch: A trip down memory lane July 12, 2023 If you’re ever in need of a history lesson, there are worse places to head than the storied and ancient House of Commons for a PMQs. But when it comes to political debate, we tend to hope our leaders will have their fingers on the pulse of the nation. Not so during this week’s Prime [...]